Billy Joe Armstrong In Oakland, Estate of the Day
It first hit the market a few weeks ago but a home belonging to Billy Joe Armstrong, the lead singer of punk-styled band Green Day just popped up on my radar thanks to a mention in the San Francisco Chronicle. The eyeliner-wearing singer has an elegant abode in the Upper Rockridge area of Oakland, California. The five-bedroom Mediterranean home was designed for Armstrong by architect Mark Becker and built in 1998. The double lot on over half an acre includes a pool, pool house and a professional music studio. The home is very restrained, decorated with soft comfortable furnishings in warm earth tones. A well-done family home lived in by Armstrong, his wife Adrienne and their two children. Adrienne has an interest in design and decor ad the home is well-styled with some gently exotic touches. The Chronicle reports that the walls of one room are covered with a collection of fliers from Green Day's early days but alas that's not in the listing pics. This home is listed at $4.85 million.
The Luxist Awards is now underway. Submit your nominations now for "Best in Décor".
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David Oct 6th 2009 2:27PM
I like Green Day and I really like the Armstrong home. It's a model of restraint.
Nice.
DJ Oct 6th 2009 2:53PM
I don't like Green Day, but I do like this house. Very clean and simple yet very warm too. The most incredible part is that this house is just 10 years old but has the authentic charm of a home built in the 1920's.
dick Oct 6th 2009 3:48PM
I agree that this is the home I could see myself living in. So many of these homes are eye-candy but I wouldn't live in them on a bet. This one I could see moving into right away and being very comfortable. Clean and yet not scary. So many are over the top and my friends would be afraid they would mess something up. Not this one.
arg2015153 Oct 11th 2009 8:23AM
Why doesn't the fey champion of the underdog simply open up the gates of his estate to the lumpen proletariat whose causes he champions so inartfully in word and song?
nicksoda Oct 8th 2009 9:00AM
Worst. Band. Ever.
dntbotheri Oct 8th 2009 9:32AM
they are the worst band ever? even worse than backstreet boys? That makes you gay Nicksoda.
DICK Oct 8th 2009 9:57AM
THIS GUY IS A PUNK SELL OUT BITCH, GOOD LUCK SELLING YOUR HOUSE LOSER.
MARY Oct 8th 2009 10:16AM
I'm not into that type of music, never heard of the band. The house looks very comfortable and charming. For a newer house, it has more of a lived-in look, and the furnishings are lovely. Face does not represent the house. I guess that is more like "don't judge a book by its cover." Also, like the privacy. As far as the asking price, I have no idea if the area warrants such a price.
kc Oct 8th 2009 11:23AM
great - "punk" rocker who is against the rich and the administration and acts as the voice for the common person is listing his 5 million dollar home. Get an apartment dude - donate your money - why don't you be the person you claim you are (as long as it doesn't interfere with your lavish lifestyle)
Naomi Dec 22nd 2009 8:12AM
@KC: Billie Joe has never said that he is against the rich. About his anger at the administration: he was against Bush and his decisions, yes. But all I have to say to that is thank God. At least he's smart. And sure, he has written and sung about feelings of alienation, loss, anger, rejection etc. But those are all things that everyone, regardless of who they are, have felt to some degree or other in their lives. So, so what? And he has never come out and said that he's the "voice of punk" or anything. That's the media's labeling. Green Day don't claim to be punk rock really, anyways. Their roots were, and they'll never forget that, but we all know that they're really pop-punk at most. An equal mix of pop-punk and alternative. Leave it alone...this article was not about their music. It was simply about his house being put for sale.
Regardless of all of that, so what if he has money? His band has been in the music business for the last 20+ years and have been very, very successful for only less than half of that time. Of course they have money. What artist like that wouldn't? It's not their fault. It's not like they go around flashing it in people faces. Up until now, the public rarely saw inside of his home. We're only seeing all of it now, because they are choosing to move. They never forgot where they're from, and are in no way full of themselves OR take it for granted. Green Day give to and support various causes and charities.
And for your information, Billie Joe originally bought the house for $600,000. Not $5 million. He's only selling it for that much. I personally know people who own multimillion dollar homes like this. Not quite this big, but not far from it. His original buying price is really nothing. A bachelor condo in downtown Toronto is about $200,000. The average old house downtown is between $250,000-$400,000. I don't know the details about house pricing, but the $5 million listing probably has to do with the market, the area, and the fact that he had the house custom built for him back in 1997. And please, he has WAY more money than that and could've easily moved into a $20 million dollar home in Hollywood and been on MTV Cribs. But he hasn't done that, and doesn't care to.
Rob Oct 8th 2009 4:21PM
Armstrong is great, he hit the big time just like he dreamed, we all have dreams, I am very proud of this band greenday, keep rockin, and I dream of owning a home like this one and living in oakland
alex Oct 29th 2009 2:52PM
...the house is ok, but I don't think I'd want to live in a house that was owned by someone who doesn't like America and constantly puts down America....bad vibes....
Coop Oct 8th 2009 12:57PM
Come on! Like friggin' Bono doesn't live in a fairly "nice" little place. . . I like Green Day's music. Not sure I care for some of the lyrics, but I don't even know who writes the stuff. I know there's a huge gulf between writing a song and performing it. Tons of country singers sing about being poor ol' country boys and live in magnificent palaces around Nashville. . . and if I could do it, I would.
Naomi Dec 22nd 2009 8:06AM
@COOP: For your information, Billie Joe wrote 100% of the lyrics on Green Day's latest album. He has written almost 100% of the lyrics for every song released, and copyrighted to Green Day. He also writes the melodies for the songs.
@DICK: Too bad for your wishes, because somebody purchased the house within a 2-3 weeks of it being listed.
@KC: Billie Joe has never said that he is against the rich. About his anger at the administration: he was against Bush and his decisions, yes. But all I have to say to that is thank God. At least he's smart. And sure, he has written and sung about feelings of alienation, loss, anger, rejection etc. But those are all things that everyone, regardless of who they are, have felt to some degree or other in their lives. So, so what? And he has never come out and said that he's the "voice of punk" or anything. That's the media's labelling. Green Day don't claim to be punk rock really, anyways. Their roots were, and they'll never forget that, but we all know that they're really pop-punk at most. An equal mix of pop-punk and alternative. Leave it alone...this article was not about their music. It was simply about his house being put for sale.
Regardless of all of that, so what if he has money? His band has been in the music business for the last 20+ years and have been very, very successful for only less than half of that time. Of course they have money. What artist like that wouldn't? It's not their fault. It's not like they go around flashing it in people faces. Up until now, the public rarely saw inside of his home. We're only seeing all of it now, because they are choosing to move. They never forgot where they're from, and are in no way full of themselves OR take it for granted. Green Day give to and support various causes and charities.
And for your information, Billie Joe originally bought the house for $600,000. Not $5 million. He's only selling it for that much. I personally know people who own multimillion dollar homes like this. Not quite this big, but not far from it. His original buying price is really nothing. A bachelor condo in downtown Toronto is about $200,000. The average old house downtown is between $250,000-$400,000. I don't know the details about house pricing, but the $5 million listing probably has to do with the market, and the fact that he had the house custom built for him back in 1997. And please, he has WAY more money than that and could've easily moved into a $20 million dollar home in Hollywood and been on MTV Cribs. But he hasn't done that, and doesn't care to.
CamaroAustin Oct 8th 2009 1:55PM
My 16 year old daughter loves Green Day,mostly Billy Joe and she would absolutely die if I had $4.85 million in the bank because I would buy it for her and give her the deed free-and-clear on her 18th.birthday. Wish I had deep pockets but alas I have empty pockets.
tyedyepheasant Oct 8th 2009 9:30PM
wow. everyone calm down. no need to bash on green day. youre reading an article about his house not their music.
and ive been there. its very pretty.
alice marie Oct 12th 2009 3:47AM
Pretty. I like the red hallway. Any idea where they are moving to? Tell me they aren't leaving Oakland....
brainslug Oct 12th 2009 2:33PM
The house, like the person, hardly screams 'punk rock'. Where's the heroin room?
Jessica Oct 12th 2009 3:30PM
BILLIE*
& He doesn't do Herion, Fucking faggot.